Improvement in latches for gates



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES R. FINLEY, OF DELPHI, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LATCHES FOR GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,877, dated January14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. FINLEY, of Delphi, in the county of Carrolland State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in combining with a gate and post ahorizontal bar and lever and frame, in which the latch is pivoted, andupon which the gate rises when closing, of peculiar construction,whereby a device is furnished to lock the gate automatically upon beingclosed; and which is simple in construction, effective in operation, anddurable in use, as hereinafter more fully described and pointed out bythe claim.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, whichrepresents a perspective view of my invention.

A represents a gate of any suitable construction hinged to a gate-post,B. O represents the gate-post at the outer end of the gate. On the gateA is secured a horizontal metal bar, D, which projects beyond the outerend of the gate for a suitable distance, On the outer side of thegate-post O is secured a vertical plate or bar, E, to which is attacheda metal frame, G; or this frame may be attached directly to thegate-post and dispense with the plate or bar E.

The frame Gris constructed in the following manner: The upper part aextends horizontally outward from, and the part Z2 lies verti callyalong, the gate-post, downwardfor a short distance, equal to the widthof the bar D on the gate. The lower part d of the frame is curved, asshown, with the extreme lower end secured to the plate E. The part aofthe frame G is slotted longitudinally, and the extreme end of said partis curved over on top, forming a hinge in which the lever J is pivoted.This lever is curved, as shown, the upper end 6 weighted, and the lowerend wedgeshaped and projecting downward through the slotted part a. Theweighted end e of the lever causes the extreme end of the wedge-shapedend f to rest on the part d of the frame G.

In closing the gate the end of the bar (I on the same strikes the curvedpart d of the frame Gandmoves in between the same and the part a, at thesame time striking the wedge shaped part f of the lever J and raisingthe same, or, in other words, turning the lever on its pivot. As soon asthe bar D has passed the part f the weighted end a of the lever causesthe same to fall again and locks the gate.

To open the gate it is only necessary to raise the lever J with one handand push the gate, whenit will open.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the gate A with horizontal projecting bar 1), and thegate-post U with the frame G and lever J, said frame being composed ofthe slotted horizontal part a, vertical part b, and curved part 0?, andthe lever having its upper end 0 weighted and the lower end fwedge-shaped, all substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

J AMES B. FINLEY. Witnesses:

SAMUEL BIPPUS, HENRY H. BOWEN.

